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 Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 5:38 pm
rescue It is rather astonishing, that moment when one realizes just how silent the world can be. The everyday sounds that might have normally jolted the boy awake were completely absent here, leaving him insensible for far longer than he should have been. When he did awaken, he was alarmed and confused, the lack of sound and color a shock to his system, especially when contrasted with his last conscious moments.
"Kayin."
He was desperately cold, numb with a bone deep chill that only barely eclipsed the pain in his head. It would have been so easy to remain where he was, lying on his back in the driving snow, but he knew that if he could still feel his limbs, he had a long way to go before he froze to death. If he stayed here, things would get far worse before they got any better. He was really not in the mood for things to get any worse.
He wished he could convince himself that this was true amnesia, but he knew that was not the case. He was able to reason with only minor difficulty and he had little trouble remembering his name. Beyond the basics of language and identity, however, everything was hazy, but that was almost certainly due to the bump on his head. He raised a shaky hand to prod it gingerly, not at all surprised when his fingers came away bloody. No, his brain was only temporarily addled. He wouldn't have the luxury of remaining in the dark. Eventually, he would remember what had happened to him.
The boy knew he couldn't afford to dawdle much longer. He slowly drew air into his lungs through his nose, held it there, then forced it back out through his mouth, watching as his misty breath joined the fog above him. He flattened his forearms against the ground on either side of him and pushed himself upright, smiling almost desperately for the benefit of no one. This small victory did not last for long, however.
Bile rose in his throat, his head spun, and a handful of seconds later his nausea pushed him flat again, leaving him to turn to one side as he heaved helplessly in the snow. While it had been inevitable given the force behind his injury, vomiting phlegmy yellow liquid wasn't his idea of fun. Normally he would have been irritated that his former captors apparently hadn't seen fit to feed him, but in this case it was a blessing in disguise. Had they given him anything to eat, he would have been ridding himself of it now anyway.
Several minutes passed before he was able to force himself to his feet. With nothing else to steal his attention, he now noticed the short fur coat that protected his arms and torso. His legs were contrastingly bare. Below the waist he was clad in nothing more than a pair of thin short pants. The only thing to do was to keep moving and hope for the best. Two shallow, parallel gouges ran through the snow off to his left. They went on for as far as he could see, which admittedly was not very far at all. He briefly entertained the idea of following the tracks to their end and dealing the damage done to him back to his attackers, but that fantasy was short-lived. He might not have recalled exactly who he was right now, but he knew he was no murderer. At least he hadn't been before he had woken up bloodied in the snow.
This time when the girl's name rose to his lips, there was a face to go with it. It was similar to his own at rest, but she possessed a determination and surety in motion that he was fairly certain he never would. Judging by the pleased, anticipatory feeling her appearance evoked, this... Kaying certainly wasn't one of his abductors. That settled it. There would be no vengeance, no mindless advancement toward trouble today. He turned away from the tracks, wrapping his arms tightly across his chest and plodding forward, one frozen foot in front of the other, time and time again. They had begun to tingle uncomfortably, and fear pushed him to move as quickly as he could. He had to find a safe place, a fire, anything that might help him to stay alive.
He continued walking for what seemed like a very long time, long enough for patches of the endless snow ahead to darken and shift, reaching out clawed hands and grabbing at the boy's legs. He wanted so desperately to run, but he knew that if he tried he would fall, and if he fell, he would never get up again. He had only just managed to convince himself that the shapes were no more than creations of his exhausted mind when one of the patches coalesced into a familiar shape. A light appeared. Another. A third. He didn't know whether to flee or stand his ground and fight. Fortunately for him, the boy's body made the decision for him. He couldn't have broken into a run even if he had truly wanted to, even if his curiosity wasn't holding him in place. He would stand his ground. He would fight if he had to, for as for as long as he could. He tried to squeeze his fingers into fists, but if he succeeded, he couldn't tell. Ice cold air attacked his lungs as he drew in a breath to speak, but before he could—
"Alek?"
"K...kayin?" The boy's voice was reedy and small, but he must have been heard. As he fell forward, a pair of hot tears trailing down his frozen cheeks, he caught himself in the snow, crying out softly as the dark shape moved closer. Whoever it was, they knew him. Furs brushed his neck and legs and the world went paler than it had been as he nearly passed out in relief. He was lifted back to his feet, then off of them, and as he struggled to remain conscious as he was carried to safety, Alek began to remember.
He wished he could have stayed in the dark.
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 1:48 pm
first steps Alek had been home for months now, but as was customary, he had accomplished nothing of note. It was far easier to fall back into old patterns and hide away underground, especially after all he had seen. He was safe here, from kidnappers, from war, from lutes and friendly faces. He was ashamed of his cowardice.
For a number of weeks following this realization, the boy continued to stick to a rather rigidly antisocial schedule:
wake up
obtain bread and jam from Sidra, preferably without being seen by Sidra
sneak into the steam exhaust cavern and watch weapons practice
hide from Kayin
Sometimes there would be dinner involved. Just as often, there would not. Outwardly, Alek couldn't bring himself to do anything more to broaden his horizons. Inside, he plotted and planned, his schemes growing more important than the life he actually lived.
He dreamed most often of the feel of a lute in his hands. He knew of no one in this place who could teach him to play—though presumably there was someone—but he didn't think he could leave home again without telling his sister, and he was not ready to tell Kayin anything. Instead, he strummed just as he schemed; in his head. It was good enough, until one day it was not. Alek found himself standing at one of the entrances to their compound, swaying with a melody he heard on the wind. His muscles were singing. He was giddy. He had to get out of here or he would explode.
He didn't have to go far. Warmer weather meant more traveling minstrels, and it barely took any time at all for Alek to find a friendly one, an older gentleman named Yazlen, or Yaz for short. Not only did Yazlen play the lute, he was also proficient with the piccolo, guitar, and hand harp. Perhaps the best part of this discovery for Alek was that Yaz didn't seem particularly inclined to demand payment for his impromptu lessons, pleased to accept odd jobs or sometimes simply Alek's company as recompense.
Soon the season began to turn once more, and Yaz took to mentioning his need to move on more and more often. He made it clear that Alek was welcome to join him, but the prentice was crippled by his reluctance to wander. So many horrible things happened when he did. He went back to the comfort of his hermity existence instead, only this time, he had a lute to keep him company.
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 1:05 pm
onda He might have found it suspicious were he anyone else—anyone with even a shred of street smarts or self preservation. Alek found it cute instead, this malnourished, tamed familiar alone on an empty path. Luckily, it was just what it seemed rather than a lure for something more sinister. Besides its obvious cuts and bruises, the sailscale was a little thin compared to the few others he'd seen, but even so it remained playful and spry, batting at the food he threw before gobbling the bits up. By the time he noticed the scuffed metal identification tag around its neck, he had already grown rather attached.
"Onda," he read, the blocky engraving glinting in the sun. The sailscale chittered at him and flapped raucously, ruffling his hair as it landed on his outstretched arm. "Where did your owner wander off to?"
The familiar, of course, didn't answer.
By sunset, Alek had made it home again, Dahou's errands complete and one sailscale in tow. Onda was looped around his neck and shoulders, napping peacefully. As soon as he set foot in the caves again, he brought her (he was pretty sure she was a her) to the only beastmaster he knew around here.
"She looks fine to me," Pandra said. (He knew she was a girl!) "Relatively speaking. Just keep feeding her regularly and she'll bounce right back."
Well, that was reassuring. But it didn't address his other, more long term problem.
"But... she's not mine. I don't think I can just... forget that someone lost her."
"I suggest fliers. They'll cut back your guilt and give the guy who lost her plenty of time to come claim her. He won't though. Not even with her fancy collar."
"Why do you say that?"
"From the amount of weight she's lost, she's been on her own in the snow for a while. That means she's either too far from home to find or whoever misplaced her doesn't want her anymore."
Alek was quiet for a minute, biting at his lower lip as he thought. No matter what the beastmaster said, he couldn't quite believe that no one would come for her, but what if that turned out to be the case? Would Kayin disapprove of his decision to keep Onda? Was that what he had even decided to do?
"Thanks... I guess. I'll get right on that."
He would keep the creature for now. Hopefully, when the time came to make a choice, the way forward would be obvious.
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:18 pm
better than this "We need to find you a proper mentor."
Alek froze, fingers tightening around the tools he held as he stared at Dahou. "What do you mean?" His voice was an inelegant squeak, barely audible due to shock over her announcement. This was the earthling who had brought Kauff back from the brink of death with the strength of her skill, the one who had delivered babies, cured rashes, soothed blinding headaches. He had learned so much under her tutelage and now she was discarding him like a worn shoe. "Did I do something wrong?"
The woman squinted at him, rose slowly, and crossed the room. Then she whapped him on the back of the head, sending his loose hair flying forward in an arc around his face. "Yes, your cowering and subservience has always been wrong, but I know I'll never break you of that. I'm not kicking you out, Alek. I just know that you need a teacher who can help you in other ways. Magical ways."
"Oh." It was true that he had been tapping into a bit of a healing gift lately, but experimenting with power and acknowledging that it might need to be trained were two different things. "I suppose." He wanted to learn. He didn't want to leave. "Would this, um, mentor come here?" To be honest, he already knew the answer, but he wanted to force Dahou to tell him. It might have made her feel sympathetic about displacing him were she anyone else, but it would likely amuse his teacher to see him out of his element instead.
"We would go to Zidel to find them. Once we locate a viable candidate, we could ask them to come back with us, but there's no guarantee that they would." Her voice was more tender than he'd heard it in a while, if ever, and it soothed him into reluctant complacency. He rested his pestle inside the marble mortar and leaned away from the table. As much as he didn't want to go, the prospect of learning more, especially about healing, always attracted him away from the status quo. Alek remained silent as he contemplated leaving his home. Leaving Kayin again.
"It won't be for long, will it?"
"Only a few days." She made a face. "I don't want to stay in Zidel any more than you do, if I can help it. If we don't find anyone the first time, we can try once a month or so until we do."
A few days. In the grand scheme of things it was no time at all. Of course, Dahou had neglected to mention what would happen if they found him a mage who refused to leave the city, but he was trying desperately to see the good in this, so he didn't dwell.
"All right. I agree. When do I need to be ready?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 1:13 pm
leten Following the handful of trips south he had taken in his lifetime, Zidel should have been tolerable at the very least. It was, Alek supposed, but only after his nerves had a couple of days to dull, and by then he was already anxious to get home. Dahou assured him that leaving was not only a monumentally stupid idea but also an impossible one, if only because she would not permit them to go until Alek had found a tutor. She told him that they would start bright and early on the third day—today—and if they didn't locate and interview a minimum of three healers by sunset, they would remain here for another two days instead of one.
It was this news that had him up just after the rising sun, carefully laying out the spectacular clothing Dahou had provided in the spectacular room she had paid for. There was apparently more to his tutor than met the eye, at least monetarily. Strange that it had taken him this long to notice.
He swept into the common room and made a beeline for the bar, not for the liquor, but to retrieve a glass of water that he hadn't also used to wash his face. Dahou found him there, staring off into space, his seemingly complimentary drink only one sip lower than it had been when he'd received it.
"Alek," she grated, waving a wrinkled hand in front of his face. "They're just people. Healers, even. They're not going to attack you on sight." Dahou was technically correct regarding the majority, but the first man they met was an unfortunate exception. He berated Alek for his timidity, teased him for a nervous stutter, and assured him he would never get a handle on proper spellcasting if he couldn't keep his hands from shaking. The last point was probably true, but he was here to learn, not to already be an expert. It was humiliating nonetheless, and the second time he visited the bar that day, reaping the benefits of a stiff drink was his goal. Whether the bartender misheard his request or decided Alek's definition of "strong" was quite a bit weaker than other people's, all he received was ale. Dahou let him down an entire mug before she took a seat beside him and pressed her hand to his forearm.
"One more today. I'll let you get away with less than I wanted thanks to that a*****e. Even I wouldn't feel right treating you so poorly."
Alek smiled a bit wider than he meant to in response to her unexpected affection, earning an eyeroll from Dahou.
"You are a horrible lightweight. I might have guessed, but it's truly remarkable seeing it in action."
"I am not." He straightened on his stool, trying to look less wobbly. "Let's go already."
The second healer they met with that day was far kinder than the first, a petite Leaf woman nearly as old as Dahou. She was impressed with Alek's knowledge of poultices and potions, and even let him sit in on a routine mending, but ultimately she wanted to leave Zidel just about as much as he wanted to stay, which was not at all. They jokingly agreed to work together as soon as one of them made a compromise. Alek left her shop with a lighter heart even so.
"But you could work with her, right?" Dahou said as she hobbled along beside him, a hand on his forearm. "If we don't find anyone else, you could stand it here with Haneth?"
Alek felt faintly nauseous at the thought of making this city his home. Still, he needed further training, and if Haneth was the only one willing to—
A pained yelp sounded from the alley to their right and both earthlings turned simultaneously, looking in the direction of the sound. Alek took a step toward the darkness, then another, surprised when Dahou didn't stop him.
"Be careful," she said.
Alek nodded, heading farther into the alley with the old healer at his back. Ahead, a pair of Winds crouched around the slumped form of a beaten Leaf man.
"Hey!" It was out of the Ice's mouth before he could fully register that this was the exact opposite of careful, that acting with far less boisterousness than he was employing now had nearly gotten him killed three years ago. But luck was on his side today, that or the thugs had been finished with the Leaf anyway.
They cast suspicious, narrow-eyed glares at Alek and Dahou, then darted off to the safety of a nearby rooftop. The Leaf left behind pushed slowly to his feet, using the wall for leverage.
"Who are you? Why did you intervene?" His voice was gruff and low. Unused. But it commanded attention as well. As dangerous as the Winds were who had knocked him around, Alek got the feeling this man was dangerous too.
Had he been a more confident young man, Alek might have taken offense at his questions, but he knew better than most how it felt to be unsure of the intentions of others, and so he answered quickly and truthfully.
"We heard sounds of distress and came to make sure you were all right. I am Alek. I'm in the city looking for a mentor."
Dahou gave him a glare that clearly implied she didn't approve of his candor. Alek ignored her. Even the man hesitated, a wrinkle marring the space between his eyes. He seemed to make a decision regarding the situation soon after that, and his face softened almost imperceptibly as he held out his hand.
"Leten. What sort of mentor do you seek?"
"A healer," Dahou replied, apprehension mollified in the face of the stranger's civility. "The boy is skilled but awful with people." Alek toed an odd line between miffed and relieved at her introduction. He shook the Leaf's offered hand, then watched as that hand was brought to the man's chest. It glowed a reddish pink for a moment, and when Alek looked up at Leten's face once more, the bruising around his eye had lessened.
"A healer. Would I suffice?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 1:13 pm
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